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MALT STIRRINGMAGHINB.

Patented Dee. 17', 1889.

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. /f-Q l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

CHARLES S. JOHNSONQERANK w. BARBER, AND .MICHAEL A.l BARBER, OF NoRwICI-I, CONNECTICUT; SAID MICHAEL A, BARBER ASSIGNOR To LYDIA A. BUCK'INGI-IAM, 'OF SAME PLACE.

i- MALT-STIWRRING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming 'part' of Ieaers Patent No. 417,488, dated December 17, 1889. vApplication led October l5, 1888. Serial No. 288,155. (No model.)

To aZZ whom #may concern.-

' in Malt-Stirring Machines, which improveings.

ments are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of draw- Our invention is in that class of maltingmachines in which a rotary agitator is employed to move the grain while germinating, to prevent said grain from becoming unduly heated; also, to stir the same during the processof drying. Duringthesestagesofgermination and drying it is absolutely necessary that means be provided to separate the individual particles and allow the air to occasionally circulate through the mass of grain; otherwise said grain becomes overheated, soured, and rendered unfit for use.

In the attempts heretofore made to produce malt by means of machines embodying socalled agitators, stirrers, or brushes the chief difculty has been met during the stage of germination of the barley, at which time the fine rootlets that' put forth from said grain become so firmly intertwined and interlocked with each other that the Whole mass becomes as a mat or woven fabric that cannot easily be torn apart. When stirrers in the form of plows or shovels are utilized, masses of the matted grain corresponding to the capacity of such plows or shovels are lifted and deposited again without tearing apart and separating the particles of grain.

The object'of our present invention is to improve the form and action of malting-machine agitators and also the mechanism by which such agitators are controlled and operated.

For the purpose of more clearly explaining said improvements we have provided the annexed drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of a malting-machine embodying our an elevation ofthe hanger proper used at one end of said agitator, and Fig. b' is a similar vlew of the companion hanger. Fig. 7 is a top or plan View of the hanger.` illustrated in Fig. 5.

In these several views like letters refer to like parts.

The general form of malting-machine which we prefer to use is that of a rectangular chamber, which for convenience and economy of space may be built between two oors a 'and b, the ends and sides being also suitably inclosed. Thev chamber or box thus provided is then subdivided into an upper and lower compartment by a perforated floor c, through which in practice a current of air of desired temperature may be drawn or forced through the grain resting on said perforated floor, such air being introduced to the lower compartment through one or more pipes d, connecting with a furnace or. refrigerating-room.

The agitator which we use to stir and separate the grain consists of a shaft e, extending from side to side of the upper compartment and carrying a series of straight radial wings c. Shaft e is supported at each end in bearings 62 e3, that form parts of strong cast-metal hangers A A. These hangers, near their upper end, have laterally-projecting arms f, and secured to each of said arms at a point about midway of their length by a bolt or screw g is a metallic frame B,that projects beyond the end of arm f and has pivoted in its free end a roll h. In the free end of arms f is a vertically-movable screw el, whose lower end engages a laterally-proj ecting lug 7o on frame B, as shown in Fig. et of the drawings. This arrangement of the rolls h (which in practice support the agitator and its actuating devices) provides a limited vertical adjustment of said agitator. It is sometimes desirable to elevate said agitator, or to lower it into closer engagement with the.perforatcd floor, or to adjust one end relative to the other end, and such results maybe quickly and easily accomplished by adjusting the screws The lower portion of hangerA is formed as a vertical plate m with beveled ends that turn the grain inward in front of the agitator, and thus prevents said grain from reaching Vand clogging the driving mechanism. v Y

On the end of shaft e isa gear C, that meshes with a corresponding gearD, journaled in the upper portion of hanger A.

Adjacent to and moving with gear C isa score-pulley E, around which passes a bight of a cable C. This cable is suitably guided to prevent it from running off from said pulley by rolls or sheaves 'n n, one on each side of said score-pulley, said guide-rolls being journaled on a supporting-frame secured to the hanger by bolts o. Cable G passes outward through the end walls of the maltingchamber and around score-pulleys H H the former of which is secured to and rotates with a shaft J, that is driven by a belt p, connecting said shaft J and a counter-shaft K,located beneath the floor Z). \Vhen shaft K is set in motion, the score-pulleys H H and cable G begin to move, causing rotary motion to be \imparted to the pulley E and its attached gear D.

This rotates the agitating device, and the wings e act to pick up a given quantity of grain and deposit it in the rear of said agitator. The advance movement of said agitator is accomplished through cables N N, lo-

` cated at each side of the malting-chamber and secured to the hangers above described at points approximately level with the agitator shaft. These cables N N are coiled around drums l P at the opposite ends of the machine, the drums at one end being hung in adjustable journal-bearings s, (see Fig. 1,) so that the slack of cables N N may be readily taken up. The shaft R, that carries the drums at the opposite end, also bears a bevel-gear S, that meshes with a corresponding gear S on a vertical shaft T, whose lower end is connected to shaft K by a pair of bevel-gearstt. It will now be understood that when shaft K begins to rotate the agitator simultaneously begins to rotate and advance through the mass of grain. The rotation of said agitator relative to its advance movement should be so regulated that the wings e may pick up the grain freely and rapidly enough so that said grain may not accumulate and pile up in front of the agitator.

Adjacent to shaft K is a parallel countershaft V, carrying fast and loose pulleys t" r2, that are driven by straight and crossed belts w w', so that said shaft V may be caused to rotate in opposite directions when desired. A belt 0c connects said pulleys fu v2 with a wide pulley y on shaft K. By transferring belt t from one to the other of said pulleys yv c? the direction of rotation of shaft K and of its connected mechanism is controlled. To accomplish this reversal and so change the direction of travel of the agitator we have provided an automatic belt-shipping device, arran-ged as follows: At each end of the malting-chamber, in the path of the carriage that supports the agitator, is pivoted a lever-arm z, whose pivotal shaft has on its outer end a lever z. (Indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l.) The ends of these levers vare connected by cables or chains z2, so that a rocking motion of one arm z imparts like motion to the companion arm at the other end of -the machine. The lever a nearest the counter-shaft V bears also a lever or cross-head z3, whose ends have cords 54 z5 leading downward therefrom. The other ends of said cords are attached, respectively, to thev ends of a shipper-lever WV, that controls the lateral movement of belt Qc. Vhen the agitator has nearly reached the end of the malting-chamber, its carriage engages and moves the arm e', and through the described medium of levers, cords, and shipperlever belt is transferred to the adjacent pulley fu or r2, as the case may be, and thus the movement of said agitator is reversed.

vIt should be understood that the rollsl h h travel on a track or ledge O, secured to the rside walls of the malting-chamber, and that the agitating device is, in fact, suspended on these rolls, so that the perimeter of said agi- `tator is not in actual contact with the perforated fioor, but the wings e pass close to said floor as they rotate.

rlhe several mechanisms yutilized to move the cables that drive the agitator are simple and positivein their action and not expensive to produce.

Having described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination, in a malting-ehamber having a perforate floor, a rotary agitator, cable mechanism, substantially as herein set forth, for moving said agitator, and hangers having journal-bearings in which the shaft of said agitator is hung, said hangers being formed with laterally-projecting verticallyadjustable arms B, bearing rolls 7L, as specified.

2. ln combination with a malting-chamber, a rotary agitator, and cable mechanism, sub- .stantially as set forth, for actuating the same,

hangers having journal-bearings in which 'the shaft of said agitator is hung, one of said hangers being formed with a vertical plate m, having beveled ends to throw the grain in front of the advancing agitator, substantially as and for the object specified.

3. In combination with a malting-chamber, a rotary agitator, and cable mechanism, as set forth, for actuating the same, hangers having journal-bearings in which the shaft of said agitator is hung, said hangers being provided with and supported by traction- IOO IIO

rolls pivoted in vertically-adjustable arms cable coiled about said score-pulley, guide- B, attached'to said hangers, as set forth, one rolls n n, supported by a frame secured to of said hangers being also provided with a said hanger, as set forth, and mechanism, 15 vertical plate m with beveled ends, all subsubstantially as herein described, for moving stantially as and for the objects specified. said cable, for the purpose stated.

' 4. `In a maltinU-chamber an agitator consisting of a shazt bearing straight radial blades e and a gear C, in combination With` MICHAEL BARBER hangers in which said shaft is journaled, a

ro gear D, also journaled in said hanger and VVitnessf-bs:l

meshing with said gear C, a score-pulley ad- FRANK H. ALLEN, jacent to and moving with said gear D, a ALLEN TENNY. 

